A remake of ‘The Matrix’ is in the works, but likely without Keanu Reeves

The Matrix is widely regarded as one of the greatest science fiction films of all time, and now it looks like a reboot may be in the works with the movie’s twentieth anniversary on the horizon. The film stars Keanu Reeves as Neo, a computer hacker who learns that the reality in which people thought they were living is actually a ruse called the Matrix, which had been designed and engineered by sentient computers that kept humans in a dream-like state and use them as fuel sources to power their cities. A team of rebels with the ability to enter and exit the Matrix find Neo in order to wake him from his dream, and he spends the rest of his time in The Matrix trilogy leading them in their war with the robots.

Now, it looks like a remake of the sci-fi smash hit from 1999 is in the works, but it seems unlikely that Keanu Reeves will be involved.

In a recent interview, Reeves told Yahoo Movies that he would be interested in acting in a reboot of The Matrix provided the film’s original writer/director duo, the Wachowski siblings, took the reins. “They would have to write it and direct it. And then we’d see what the story is, but yeah, I dunno, that’d be weird, but why not?” Reeves said.

Unfortunately for fans, it appears as though that will not be the case.

The Hollywood Reporter says multiple unnamed sources have confirmed to the site that Warner Bros. is in the early stages of remaking The Matrix. At this point, however, it does not appear that the Wachowskis or Reeves will have key roles in the making of the new film — or any roles at all, perhaps.

Zak Penn is reportedly in talks to write the reboot, and there is supposedly interest in having Michael B. Jordan star in the new film. Penn is widely known for his writing roles in popular movies like The Avengers and X-Men: The Last Stand, while Jordan starred most recently in Fantastic Four and Creed.

It is also currently unknown if Warner Bros hope to involve other stars from the original film, including Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss and Hugo Weaving, in the new The Matrix reboot.